The general feeling at the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association’s (FNGLA) 2015 Tropical Industry Exhibition (TPIE), January 21-23, 2015 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., was upbeat and positive. Attendees were inspired by exciting new products and varieties, as well as creative new displays and innovative ideas, and left energized for the season ahead.
1
of
29
1
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
TPIE is a flourish of color, with tropical plants and foliage everywhere.
2
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
United Nurseries took home the Best Of Show Booth Award for 2015, with its red carpet depiction, combining plants and classic movies.
3
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
Here’s another look at United Nurseries’ booth, which received the Best Of Show Booth Award for 2015, with its red carpet depiction, combining plants and classic movies.
4
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
Creative ideas for selling and merchandising plants were ubiquitous at this year's show.
5
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
Excelsa Gardens combines the glamour of a wedding ensemble with vintage mirrors and tropical mystique.
6
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
Alocasia 'Low Rider' from Excelsa Gardens
7
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
Cordyline 'Pink Diamond from Excelsa Gardens
8
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
Just Add Ice orchids displayed creative new ways to merchandise for the holiday season, offering a variety of plant alternatives.
9
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
Combining Norfolk Island pine trees with anthuriums is one unique way to celebrate the holidays.
10
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
Tillandsia air plants were hung everywhere, showing this trend is still going strong and driving sales.
11
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
Silver Vase captured the award for the favorite new flowering plant with its 'Black Velvet' orchid.
12
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
McArthur High School impressed the crowd with its dance team talent.
13
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
McArthur High School students getting the crowd jazzed up during the TPIE Happy Hour, sponsored by Suntory Flowers.
14
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
Buy Fresh from Florida signs were everywhere at TPIE, displaying pride in Florida agriculture.
15
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
New orchid sheaths from A-Roo offer customers an easy and chic way to carry these delicate plants home from the store.
16
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
Pure Beauty Farms wowed with its incredible plant combinations.
17
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
Living walls are getting bigger, and they're truly incredible with tropical plants.
18
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
This Cocktail Tree, growing Key Limes and Meyer Lemons from Record Buck Farms is a unique and attractive product for Generation Y customers.
19
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
The Big Bag Bed Mini by High Caliper Growing was the favorite new product this year.
20
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
Oglesby Plants International won the favorite new foliage plant award with philodendron 'Lickety Split.'
21
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
Vriesia 'Naomi' by DeRoose Plants won the Most Unusual Plant Specimen Award.
22
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
MasterTag showed off a creative way to sell tropical plants to consumers.
23
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
Pine Island Nurseries featured these fantastic coffee plants, which could appeal to consumers of any age.
24
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
The Barista Garden Collection by Pine Island Nurseries was a huge draw at TPIE.
25
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
Costa Farms always wows with its creative booth displays. It won Judges' Choice.
26
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
Norfolk Island pines offer a great mantel option for holiday sales, and look good all year long.
27
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
Costa's unique Color Sticks will appeal to younger generations and moms with young kids.
28
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
Delray Plants showcases some of the ideas it features on Pinterest boards. This is a great way to share ideas with consumers at retail.
29
of
29
Highlights From TPIE 2015
Suntory's Tecoma 'Sun Trumpets' debuted at TPIE, and won a Cool Product Award from the Garden Center Group.
More than 6,000 attendees from 42 states and 39 countries made for a five-year high, according to FNGLA. Trade show traffic was up, with 50 new exhibitors and increases in buyer attendance. The TPIE Road Show, offering visits to area nurseries, retail stores and green wall attractions, was a sell-out event. Keynote speaker Christine Boland, a Dutch trend analyst, shared notable social trend markers, and how they apply to the green industry, with a standing-room-only audience.
Advertisement
The TPIE Happy Hour on the first day of the show was sponsored by Suntory Flowers. The highlight of the evening: entertainment by McArthur High School, from Hollywood, Fla. After an introduction by T. Jay Higgins of SunFire Nurseries, who works with the school’s FFA chapter and helped the school purchase and set up a greenhouse this past year, a mob of students danced through the streets and captured the hearts of show attendees.
What Are the Best Agriculture Colleges in the World in 2024?
The theme this year was inspiration and innovation, and these values were evident in the creative exhibits at the trade show. The TPIE Best In Show booth award went to United Nurseries for its red carpet experience, complete with plant-themed movie posters playing off real movie titles. Other booth stars included Silver Vase, which captured the first place Island Exhibit Award.
The Most Unusual Plant Specimen Award went to DeRoose Plants for Vriesia ‘Naomi.’
Buyers at TPIE voted on their favorite new plants and products. Winners were:
Favorite flowering plant – ‘Black Velvet’ orchid by Silver Vase
Favorite foliage plant – Philodendron ‘Lickety Split’ by Oglesby Plants International
Favorite New Product – Big Bag Bed Mini by High Caliper Growing
The TPIE Cool Products awards, selected by The Garden Center Group, are presented during the show, offering exhibitors an opportunity to talk about their new products. There were 15 cool products for 2015, covering a mix of plants, packaging and related products.
TPIE Main Attractions
Other highlights of the show included the TPIE Create Theater, which allowed members of the American Institute of Floral Designers a showcase for a designer duel and daily workshops. The TPIE Interiorscape Award Winners Showcase featured top award winners from the PLANET, PIA and I-Plants and Urban Horticulture magazine awards programs. Eight projects from across North America were recognized, including special event displays, green walls and colorful container plantings.
New this year was FNGLA’s Certifications Showcase, where hundreds of attendees practiced for the FNGLA Landscape Certificate exam stations, including plant identification and job evaluation. Mentors and judges were on hand, answering questions and encouraging industry professionals to become FNGLA-certified.
Check out the gallery to view new trends, ideas and products from TPIE 2015. Visit the FNGLA website to learn more about TPIE and its other programs and capabilities.
015TPIE 2015: An Electrified Industry Vibe Boosts Cool New Varieties And Products